July 2026

Dear Friend of FiN,

As summer progresses, we are thrilled to see the influx of fresh produce from the Newport Community Garden as well as from the Fresh Earth Farms - CSA funded by generous community members. These donations make it possible for us to fulfill our goal of providing nutritional food items to clients in need.

Summer time presents its own unique challenges for those suffering from food insecurity. The absence of school meals for children on summer break means households need to find additional food resources. At FiN we are sponsoring a 'Face the F.A.C.T.S.' donation drive to bring in additional funding and nutritional food items so we can provide the supplemental support families need until September. All donations in the month of July will help us qualify for a partial match in the Summer Challenge sponsored by Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless. More information regarding these complementary campaigns can be found in the article below.

And though it seems summer just began, we are getting ready for our annual 'Fill the Backpack' Drive which allows us to send kids back to school in September well equipped and ready to learn. Check out the article below to see how you can help.

We remain grateful for all of the community support we receive and thank everyone for their contributions over the years. Now, more than ever, your donations are critical in supporting our mission of eliminating food insecurity in our communities. Every little bit helps. You really do make a difference!

With gratitude,

Crystal Schneider

Executive Director



* Feeding America^®

^

Putting the 'C' in CSA!

Thanks to generous donors, FiN is receiving fresh produce from Fresh Earth Farms' Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) offering this year! We are so grateful for this gift which will help us provide fresh nutritional fruits and vegetables to households in need. Read more about Fresh Earth Farms and this wonderful gift at the links below. There are still shares left so be sure to check out what can be purchased for yourself or for FiN. We appreciate Fresh Earth Farms helping our community by putting the 'C' in CSA!

Check out Fresh Earth Farms CSA!

Check out the DonationShare page to fund part or all of a CSA.

Making a difference ...

Hunger doesn't take a summer vacation!

Research shows that summer hunger and food insecurity can cause physical and mental health problems and lead to poor performance in class when school begins again.

• Studies indicate food-insecure children experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
• Children who don’t have enough to eat have more issues with language and motor skills.
• Hunger has harmful effects on a child’s learning during the summer. That’s when a phenomenon called summer slide can be intensified without proper nutrition.

When kids are properly fed their brains are nourished, setting them up for success in the classroom.

Your donations help us provide nutritional food items to children during their summer break. We are grateful for the individuals, churches, schools, and other organization who help us in our mission to:

'Face the F.A.C.T.S!'

From Feed The Children^®

Donate in July and help FiN meet our match in the Summer Challenge!

FILL THE BACKPACKS ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE

Yes, even though summer has just begun, FiN is preparing to send kids back to school with the supplies they need to be successful. On August 13, we will be handing out grade-appropriate backpacks to qualifying families in St. Paul Park, Newport, Cottage Grove, and Grey Cloud Island.

We are starting our collection phase, and ask those who are able to donate some of the following needed items to help us fill the backpacks! Donations can be dropped off at 535 4th Street, St. Paul Park. If outside of business hours, donations can be put in the blue bin in the rear of the building. Items can also be ordered and delivered directly to us through our Amazon Wishlist or Walmart Most Needed List.

• Notebooks, folders, 3-ring binders, filler paper
• Pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers
• Rulers
• Markers, crayons, colored pencils
• Pencil - boxes and bags
• Glue - bottles and sticks
• Kleenex, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes
• Ziploc bags (gallon, quart, and sandwich size)

Last year we distributed over 400 backpacks and anticipate the same for this year. Your contributions can help us prepare kids in our community for a great 'Back to School' in the fall!

2025 Back to School Drive

Out and About

This summer, FiN will be out in the community as we gather donations at a variety of events. We encourage you to drop by and learn firsthand the profound impact your involvement can have in our mission to eradicate hunger in our neighborhoods. Together, we can make a difference—remember, every contribution, no matter how small, is vital to providing support for families grappling with food insecurity. We look forward to sharing our meaningful work with you while you enjoy the fun and camaraderie of summer events in our communities. Let’s come together, have fun, and create positive change!

Bring donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, paper goods, or cash/check to the FiN booth at:

• So. 60 CRUZRS 'Cars in the Park' - Veterans Memorial Park, St. Paul Park, the first Wednesday car show of every month. 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.
• Pioneer Days - Newport's Pioneer Park, August 8
• Heritage Day's - St. Paul Park, August 15
• St. Paul Park Farmer's Market - St. Paul Park City Hall, October 6

Looking to make connections in the community, Emy started volunteering at Friends in Need food shelf. Since joining FiN, she says she has found the experience to be “amazing”, allowing her “the opportunity to learn, grow and have fun with other FiN volunteers and clients.”

In addition to her weekly volunteer hours, Emy’s dedication shines brightly during events like the annual “Coldest Night of the Year” fundraising walk, where her participation plays a crucial role in its success. Her willingness to engage in additional opportunities further highlights her passion for service. Emy’s heartfelt appreciation for FiN’s impactful work is reciprocated with gratitude from the organization, acknowledging her as a “FiN-tastic” volunteer whose efforts truly make a difference in the community.

Dining to Make A Difference!

Did you know¹:



• Every $1 donation can fund 10 meals!
• Almost 540,000 Minnesotans are facing hunger. Of those, 34% are under the age of 18.
• Recent changes to SNAP benefits resulted in thousands of Minnesotan losing their benefits resulting in an increase in visits to food shelves.
• The overall price of groceries in Minnesota has risen 19% since 2019.

Every little bit helps as we work to both raise awareness and lower the number of those experiencing food insecurity!

¹ Feeding America

Don't forget to see if your company matches donations!

During the month of June, FiN:

• Served 6,294 individuals in 1,412 Households, for a weekly average of 282 households.
• Welcomed 68 new families.
• Made 54 deliveries.
• Provided food and goods to 6,294 individuals, 38% of which were children and 8% were seniors.
• Distributed 118,384 pounds of food, toiletries, and other goods, averaging 19 lbs. per person or 84 pounds per household.

Volunteering at FiN is flexible and fun!

Join our team of FiN-tastic volunteers and sign up for shifts at your convenience. FiN uses the VicNet mobile app for volunteer scheduling. You can choose to volunteer when you want and select from any available open position. If something comes up, simply use VicNet to take yourself off the schedule.

It takes over 125 volunteers each week to allow FiN to deliver an outstanding client experience. New volunteers are always needed and always welcome!

• Serving clients in South Washington County with a focus on Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport, and Grey Cloud Island. However, our clients come from al over the Twin Cities Metro. We turn no eligible person in need away!
• We are 99% volunteer operated, with over 125 individuals donating their time each week in service to the community.
• More than 50% of our operating budget comes from community donations and grants.

Supporting the Community with

Community Support since 1992!